Bad roads: MLAs warn of public protests

TNN | Updated: Jul 28, 2019, 10:02 IST

KOCHI: Many of the city roads are pockmarked with gaping potholes and craters and while the ‘road owners’ are yet to wake up to the issue, local MLAs have come out against the Public Works Department (PWD) for the delay in taking remedial measures. They said several potholes-related accidents have been taking place and the damaged roads need to be relayed on a war footing. The people’s representatives raised their concern at the district development committee meeting convened at the Ernakulam Collectorate on Saturday. They also alleged that the PWD (roads) has been refusing to abide by the instructions given to them. After the onslaught of heavy rains, many stretches of both the national highways and state highways passing through Ernakulam have been completely damaged. The Chitrapuzha-Perumbavoor, Puthencruz-Karivaloor, Manoor-Ponjaserry, Nadakavu Road, Puthiyakavu-Kanjiramattom, Chalakkudy-Angamaly -Aluva Road are in bad state. There are large potholes on these roads and two-wheeler riders often meet with accidents. The MLAs have demanded that the ‘road owners’ should ignore the rains and continue with the process of filling the potholes. They said the road tarring works can be undertaken after the monsoon season. VP Sajeendran MLA, who represents Kunnathunadu constituency, said: “PWD officials adopt a half-hearted approach when it comes to road repair and relaying works. They act hand in glove with contractors, who are not interested in executing maintenance works. The officials do not initiate action against contractors who fail to execute road repair in a time-bound manner.” The people’s representatives have registered their protests over the PWD’s lackadaisical approach, he added. The MLAs also want the collector to take a tour and understand the road conditions. They said if if the situation continues they would be forced to come out with public protests.

Eldhose Kunnappilly MLA, representing Perumbavoor constituency, said the repeated requests to fill potholes have fallen on deaf ears. He said the PWD officials would write down all the suggestions made at meetings but will not take any followup measures. “The officials act stubbornly, and there aren’t any good roads left in the district,” he said, adding that such meetings have become a farce as “the officials do not pay attention or attach any seriousness to the suggestions made by MLAs and other people’s representatives”. Meanwhile, in Kochi city, apart from the road owned by the PWD, those belonging to the Kochi Corporation and Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) have also reduced to a mess of rubble and stones. Despite, district collector S Suhas issuing directives to relay the roads on a war footing, the road owners have been maintaining that they are forced to stop or slow down the works due to rains. Engineers with the local bodies say that once the weather turns favourable they will complete the works.